Technological and Scientific Expertise. Customer Directed Research and Development.

Render Courtesy of Tom Kekona, K.C. Environmental, Inc. AZ Technology has been specializing in scientific and engineering research and development since 1990. A woman and service-disabled-veteran-owned small business, the company has particular expertise in electromechanicaloptical design and hardware integration, advanced materials and coatings, chemical processes, information technology, and in the development of hardware systems for scientific measurement. AZ Technology s history is rich with major research projects and technology transfer. Early projects include: an experiment on the Long Duration Exposure Experiment (LDEF); development of the Optical Properties Monitor (OPM) and the Space Portable SpectroReflectometer (SPSR) with NASA, both of which were used on the exterior of the Russian Space Station Mir; and the development and application of specialized coatings for the exterior of the International Space Station (ongoing). From these beginnings in space-related research and development, AZ has developed and manufactures a large line of specialized paints/coatings, a series of portable optical properties measurement instruments, and laser source simulators for seeker operational readiness tests of laser-designated weapons. The AZ team has skills and experience in broad areas of science, engineering, and IT and our senior personnel have remained with the company for many years. LDEF attached to shuttle robotic arm against the sunrise. Newly developed AZ Technology thermal control coating slotted for use on the planned Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST). The coating system for the most critical areas [of the ATST] is...manufactured by AZ Technology. Initial test results indicate a solar reflectance of just over 86% and near-normal emittance of 97% after one year of weathering." ATST Quarterly News, Vol. 4, No. 1: March 2008. Reproduced courtesy of NSO/AURA. Technological and Scientific Expertise AZ Technology provides customers technical and scientific expertise for specialized projects. The company performs a full range of functions, from research and concept development through design, fabrication, assembly, integration, testing and production. With AZ Technology, conceptual designs are approached by a professional staff who understand the concerns and necessities of fabrication and manufacturing for both space and terrestrial applications. An AZ team combines research scientists with optical, electronic, and mechanical design engineers to produce practical, real-world solutions to a variety of complex problems. Customer Directed Research and Development AZ continues involvement in research on materials & coatings for use in space with the Materials International Space Station Experiment. AZ Technology is central to the team, providing a deeper understanding of the chemistries involved and solutions to technical challenges. Fred Schramm, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Innovative Partnerships Program, 2009 Many of our early successes arose from responding to customer needs for research and development in areas where AZ has unique expertise. We continue this tried and true method of technological advancement. Recent developments include: (1) weather resistant thermal control coatings for earth-based observatories; (2) high-strength, near-zero out-gassing, wide temperature range, space-safe adhesives; (3) a high-temperature, low emittance, electrostatic dissipative coating designed for use on spacecraft. "I found AZ Technology second to none. Their timely response in the design of enabling hardware for a Fortune 50 corporation was beyond any expectation. Certainly beyond the capabilities of a larger company with a complex infrastructure." Lloyd Starks, President, CHEMCO, Inc., 2009

New research projects at AZ include green cellulosic conversion for fuels, materials and chemicals using waste paper as well as other waste feed stocks. A combination of intellect, curiosity, and extraordinary imagination allows AZ Technology scientists to transcend objectives, to arrive at the unexpected `breakthrough. Donald O. Frazier, Chief Scientist, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, 2009 New Research Directions Space-safe adhesives, paints, lubricants, and chemical processes, must necessarily be easy-to-handle, be zero off-gassing and meet rigorous standards of flammability. These naturally translate into environmentally friendly terrestrial products and processes. Thus products being explored in partnership with NASA and aerospace companies for use in space are yielding green terrestrial products. Some specific efforts include: (1) specific extraction of lignin from woody biomass (lignin has a variety of commercial uses from glues to chemicals to fuels); (2) development of environmentally friendly glues; (3) green processes for metal reclamation from waste electronics; (4) environmentally friendly cellulosic conversion for fuels, materials and chemicals using waste paper as well as other waste feed stocks. AZ Technology, in collaboration with NASA, has assembled an impressive group of potentially commercial products. These products appear to offer leading edge technology representative of the innovations coming from the space programs. Chuck Hill, New Business Development Manager, 3M Protective Materials, 2009

Advanced Coatings Development and Application AZ Technology is one of the country s few specialists in the development, application, testing, manufacture and inspection of specialty coatings for space and other harsh environment applications. AZ produces a variety of tailorable coatings with specific optical, mechanical, thermal, and electrical characteristics. AZ specialist completing final details on NASA logo. AZ scientists work with government agencies, the military and aerospace companies in the application of coatings onto spacecraft hardware. This requires a careful, detailed process of surface preparation, and testing to ensure that these specialized coatings endure the punishing effects of space and other harsh environments. AZ is the only company with NASA-certified color coatings; having coated emblems on the International Space Station such as the NASA, European Space Agency and Italian Space Agency logos, and the U.S. flag, as well as various letterings and navigational targets. In any recent movie depicting the space station, the white and black circles and squares, and the NASA and other logos you see were coated in our facilities. Testing white coatings within AZ Technology s custom-built ultra-high vacuum chamber. Specialized Materials for Extreme Environments AZ specialists are experienced in the development of environmentally resistant coatings and materials, conductive coatings, highly reflective or absorptive coatings, and signature control coatings (for stealth-type aircraft and other devices). The company will work with organizations to develop custom materials to help solve particular problems. The small business has literally left its mark on the cosmos where it is the only company officially licensed by NASA to paint the space agency s red, white and blue logo on the orbiting International Space Station. Technologies: A to Z, Partners Magazine, Spring 2002 Hardware Development AZ Technology develops complex hardware systems for aerospace applications and for the laboratory. AZ s expert in-house development team has successfully created highly integrated optical, electronic, and mechanical systems for use in space and terrestrial environments. Portable instrument measures ambient temperature total emittance & solar absorption. Instrument Product Line Our products primarily fall into two categories: optical properties measurement and laser source simulators. As a natural complement to our expertise in specialized thermal control coatings, AZ Technology has developed a product line of highly accurate portable instruments for measuring optical properties of materials; specifically, solar absorption, emittance, reflectance, and transmittance. In addition, AZ Technology has custom-developed a number of related laboratory instruments and spaceflight hardware. We also provide measurement and testing services using many of these instruments. 1998. Custom-developed white and black coatings form navigational targets on initial U.S. module of the International Space Station. AZ has a second instrument product line of PRF and PIM coded Laser Source Simulators that provide a safe, cost-effective method to perform seeker system operational readiness tests just prior to mission for laser-designated weapons. 2008. Astronaut suspended from International Space Station robotic arm with AZproduced NASA, ESA and ASI logos in lower right. LSS 200 laser source simulator for testing of laser-designated weapons.

Telecommunications AZ Technology s information technology department grew out of the need for embedded processors and data acquisition requirements for our space flight experiments. AZ was the first company to implement a real-time telemetry download system for an automated experiment on the Russian Space Station Mir. This lead directly to the VoIP system developed for the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) under the federal government s Small Business Innovation Research Program, which was designed to give experimenters remote access to the International Space Station. Not only is it still being used today, but AZ Technology is currently installing it with the replacement keyset hardware across the entire agency. NASA Payload Operations Center AZ also develops all the data acquisition and embedded software for our line of laboratory and space instruments and services and supports the user community around the world. Applications and Web Services AZ Technology currently supports the Unified NASA Information Technology Services (UNITeS) program providing software development, web development, data base development, help desk support and training support services. In 1990, after 18 years with NASA, the late Don Wilkes launched AZ Technology as a small one-man home business. Obtaining a NASA contract to perform post-flight analysis for an experiment on the Long Duration Exposure Experiment (LDEF), Mr. Wilkes proceeded to build an engineering organization with a variety of technical skills and backgrounds. Much of the company s early success came through the federal government s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program for increasing opportunities for small businesses to perform government research. From 1990 to 2001 AZ developed many commercial products based on such research and development. This success was recognized in an episode of the PBS series Small Business School, on commercial benefits of the International Space Station. By 2002, AZ Technology occupied a 22,000-squarefoot, fully tooled facility in Huntsville, AL. In addition to research and engineering, the 25 employees performed light manufacturing at the company s facility, producing a line of instruments, providing measurement services and engineering services, and applying coatings to spacecraft, satellites and specialized terrestrial hardware. AZ Technology s two major areas of engineering services are: (1) design, integration, prototyping, and small quantity manufacturing services for electrical, optical, and mechanical systems and packaged instruments; and (2) providing thermal analysis test support. Our experience in designing and building optical properties instrumentation and high voltage battery ground support equipment, as well as, integrating space-flight experiments gives us unique capabilities over the typical modeling and simulation service provider. We know hardware. AZ Technology leverages expertise in optical properties measurements to provide radiometric test support for directed energy programs for the SMDC of the Department of the Army. This includes optical properties measurements, radiometric optical design, time stamping, synchronizing multiple cameras across the visible to far infrared spectrum, and integrating other sensor signals into the data package. Our experience in measuring emittance was used to develop the Ultra-TEMP high temperature emittance measurement system for NASA MSFC. AZ Technology also designed and delivered the first handheld, eye-safe, PIM code laser source simulator to the Army. Top Middle: Communication box and antenna on ISS coated by AZ with AZ white thermal control and electrostatic dissipative coating. Bottom left: European Space Agency logo coated by AZ with AZ color coatings. In 2002, the founder began the process of stepping aside, bringing in his daughter, Lynn Leeper, as CEO, and thus continuing the tradition of a small family-owned company. To the detriment and sorrow of all that had known him and the scientific and business community at large, Don Wilkes passed away in 2006 after a long battle with cancer. Since 2006, Ms. Leeper has been both CEO and President of AZ Technology. The company has grown to 35 employees and recently opened a new additional facility in nearby Athens, AL. Though NASA remains an important research partner and customer, the company continues to diversify and expand its product lines and customer base. New research projects in advanced materials and related instrumentation continue the tradition of innovation and technological advancement upon which the company was founded and built, and will allow the company to continue to grow and flourish. SPSR tested in neutral buoyancy tank. AZ Technology works on projects such as the Space Portable SpectroReflectometer, which recently returned from the Mir Space Station, remote teleoperations, aerospace coatings and materials processing, and optical properties instrumentation. Episode of PBS Small Business School, 2001